Time switch



Jan. .1.3, 1931. -R. w. E. vlcKERY I 1,789,057

TIME SW1-TCH "Filed March l2, 1930 Pmnad. Jan, 13, 1931 V UNITEDv STATES 13.41.113 w. E. 4vrcir'ieaanr, or' nansrrrmnn, nassacnusn'r'rs 'rma swrrcn Application mea much 12, 1930. serial 11. 435,186.'

A My invention relates to time switches for opening and closing the circuits of illuminat.

ing systems such as street' lights and store window lights, electric signs, signals, radioreceiving sets, electrical orchestras such as used in hotels, and in fact to control electric circuits which are required to be opened and closed at predetermined times.

My invention contemplates the use of a standard piece of apparatus known as a toggle switch, together with means actuated by a clock-work mechanism having a twentyfour hour arbor for moving the lever of the toggle switch in opposite directions at predetermined times. In one specific embodiment of my invention I provide two arms adjustable about the axis of the arbor of a clock-work mechanism and means for clamping the same in adjusted position, and the ends of said arms are provided respectively with reversely-inclined cam surfaces arranged to co-operate with 'the projecting lever of the toggle switch, one to shove said lever in one direction to open the circuit and the other after a predetermined lapse of time to lpush it in the opposite direction for closing the circuit. The 'other ends of said arms may terminate in pointers disposed adjacent to the figures on a dial secured to and rotat 0 ing with the arbor to facilitate the desired setting of the arms whereby the circuit may vbe opened and closed at predetermined times.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a rear end elevation of a time switch involving my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of one form of dial that `may be used. l In the particular drawings selected for more fully disclosing my invention and which are to be considered only as illustra.- tive of one embodiment thereof, 10 is a clockwork mechanism, preferably an eight-dayI clock, secured in any suitable manner to the casing 11 to the interior of which the me# tallic plate 12 is attached, the flan 13 of 5 0 which affords a convenient means or supporting a switch 14 of the toggle type which: is provided with a projecting lever 15.

The clock preferably is provided with a twenty-four hour arbor 16 which carries the dial 17 secured thereto by a pin or screw passing through the hole 18 and entering the colla-r 19 on the arbor. Two sets of numbers each from 1 to 12, inclusive are print- -ed on the outer face of the dial and spaced equally aroundvthe same to represent the twenty-four hours of the day, one-half of the dial between the opp0sitely-disposed figures 6 being shaded to represent the hours between six oclock p. m. and six oclock a. m. The means actuated by the clock-work mechanism for moving the lever 15 in' opposite directions at predetermined times are shown 1in the present instance as the arms 20, 21

loosely mounted on the arbor above the -di'al and arranged to be clamped in adjusted posif tion by the knurled nut 22. The ends of said arms are 'provided with reversely-inclined cam surfaces 23, 24, respectively, in the pathofl which the end of the lever 15 is arrangedl so that after said arms have been clamped to and are rotated by the arbor, theyv will re'-l spectively push the lever outwardly to open the circuit, for instance, as shown lin Fig. 2, and afterv a. predetermined time push it inwardly to close the circuit. Preferably the op osite ends of theV arms terminate in vthe pomters 25, 26 disposed adjacent the figuresy on thedial for convenience in setting said larms for the purpose of opening and-closing the circuit at predetermined hours.

As shown in Fig. 1 the counter-clockwise rotation of the arbor (with respect to the observer viewing the apparatus from the rear) will ,cause the cam surface 23 toiopen or close the circuit at sii: oclock p. m. and the cam surface 24 to close or open it, as the case may be, at twelve oclock midnight. l

It is to be understood that where the term i switch of the toggle type appears in the amended claims it is my intention to cover either a single or double-throw switch of this type, that` I vmay useeither one switch or a plurality thereof, and that if a plurality are employed, they may be arranged reversely or otherwise as circumstances may require.

Having thus disclosed an illustrative embodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure b Letters Patent is:

1. A time switc comprising in combination a clock-work mechanism, a switch of the toggle type mounted on said mechanism, said switch having a projecting lever, and means actuated by said mechanism for moving said lever in opposite directions at predetermined times, sald means comprising reversely-inclined cam surfaces disposed to cooperate with said lever.

2. A time switch comprising in combination a clock-work mechanism having an arbor, a switch of the toggle type mounted on said mechanism, said switch having a projecting lever directed toward said arbor, a and a pair of arms carried by said arbor, the ends of said arms, respectively, having reversely inclined cam surfaces disposed to co-operate with said lever.

3. A time switch comprising in combination a clock-work mechanism having an arbor, a switch of the toggle type mounted on said mechanism, said switch having a projecting lever directed toward said arbor, a pair of arms loosely mounted on said arbor,

'the ends of said arms, respectively, having reversely inclined cam surfaces disposed to co-operate with said lever, and, means for clamping said arms to said arbor in adjusted positions.

4. A time switch comprising in combination a clock-work mechanism having an arbor, a switch of the toggle type secured to said mechanism, said switch having a projecting lever extending toward said arbor, a dial rigidly connected to'said arbor, and a pair of arms secured to said arbor, the ends of said arms res ectively having reversely inclined cam surfgces disposed to co-operate with said lever and terminating at their opposite ends in pointers disposed adjacent to th' fi ures on said dial.

5. time switch comprising in combination a clock-work mechanism, a switch having a projecting lever, means securing said switch tosaid mechanism, and means actuated by said mechanism for moving said lever in opposite directions at predetermined times, said means comprising reversely-inclined cam surfaces disposed to co-operate with said lever.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of March, 1930.

RALPH W. E. VICKERY. 

